Prophecy's Blind Date

This article was written for Seventh-day Adventists only, mainly because the intense debate about whether there is, or isn't, a real prophecy about 2520 years in Leviticus 26 is raging primarily in Adventist circles. I personally became aware of this in 2011 at my home church in Washington State when some of my friends became believers in the 2520 teaching, and began sharing it with others. Serious divisions resulted, and after a time, a sizable group was removed from membership. The whole affair was very unfortunate and painful to both sides.

In a nutshell, 2520 advocates are sincerely convinced that the current resurgence of this teaching is from God to bring Adventism back to its original "foundation" and "platform" represented by the 1843 and 1850 Millerite prophecy charts. If you take a closer look at the 1843 chart (pictured here on this article to the left), you will see the 2520 teaching right there in plain English. In 1850 Ellen White also wrote concerning that very chart,

"I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the figures were as He wanted them; that His hand was over and hid a mistake in some of the figures, so that none could see it, until his hand was removed " (EW, 74).

This is perhaps the most important quotation in the 2520 controversy. The "mistake" referred to above primarily concerned not the 2520 timeline itself, but the Millerite miscalculation of the 2300-day prophecy of Daniel 8:14. After the Great Disappointment on October 22, 1884, that mistake was corrected on the 1850 chart. Because Mrs. White wrote that "the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of the Lord" and "should not be altered," 2520 believers conclude that the rest of the chart, including the 2520 prophecy, remains as "present truth" for us today.

"Inspiration says that the 1843 chart should not be altered." they insist. "Our church has lost sight of the 2520 prophecy and must return to its foundations in order to be ready for the latter rain, loud cry, and second coming. The Holy Spirit is bringing this prophecy back to us, and if we resist His special message, we are fighting against God!"

As you can imagine, the result has been intense controversy between those who truly believe this reasoning, and those who don't.

Before going any further, I want to affirm my personal faith in the following: the prophecy of Daniel 8:14, the three angel's messages of Revelation 14:6-12, that God led William Miller and his associates, and the inspiration of Ellen White. I also hope to be among that blessed number who receives the latter rain (see Zechariah 10:1), give the loud cry (see Revelation 14:9), and are prepared for Christ's return (see Revelation 14:14-16). With these affirmations, let's begin examining the issues.

First, Jesus Christ solemnly warned us that Satan seeks "to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Matthew 24:24). Yes, the devil seeks to dupe the world at large, and Christians in general, but his special targets are sincere, Bible-believing, conservative Seventh-day Adventists. We should also seriously consider this additional warning:

"Many apparently good things will need to be carefully considered with much prayer, for they are specious devices of the enemy to lead souls in a path which lies so close to the path of truth that it will be scarcely distinguishable from it (EV, 590)."

Based on this sober counsel, surely the current 2520 message should "be carefully considered with much prayer." Is it truth, or error? Asking such a question is wholly proper and should not be thoughtlessly scorned. Anything claiming to be present truth should be closely scrutinized.

What 2520 Supporters Believe

To those who are aware of this controversy, it is no secret that the 2520 supporters sincerely believe:

1. The 2520 is a divine prophecy embedded in Leviticus 26.

2. In Leviticus 26 the Lord warned that if Israel disobeyed, he would punish her "several times" for her sins. Those "seven times" actually represent "seven years," or 2520 days which, based on the day-year principle, mean 2520 years.

3. Because William Miller believed that the 2520 prophecy began 677 B.C. when King Manasseh was taken to Babylon, and ended in 1844, these dates should be considered to be correct.

4. Adventists have lost sight of the 2520 prophecy and should begin teaching it again.

Major arguments used to support the above conclusions include:

1. Ellen White clearly wrote that God led William Miller in his prophetic studies.

2. William Miller believed in a 2520 prophecy based on his study of Leviticus 26.

3. Ellen White was clearly shown that God led in the publication of the 1843 and 1850 Millerite charts, and since both charts contained the 2520 prophecy (rooted in Miller's view), it must be from God.

Is that final conclusion right or wrong? As we continue examining issues, some other factors must also be considered.

The 1843 Chart Should Not Be Altered "Except By Inspiration"

About the 1843 chart, Ellen White also wrote:

"I saw that the old [1843] chart was directed by the Lord, and that not a figure of it should be altered except by inspiration (Spalding-Magan Collection, 1).

These words clarify that the 1843 chart can be appropriately altered, as long as this is done "by inspiration." Stop for a minute and think. If the 1843 chart was perfect, except for the "mistake" that was later corrected, then why would Ellen White even add that it should not be altered "except by inspiration"? If flawless, what's to alter? This extra clause implies that as time advances, there may indeed be a few more things that need altering. But if so, "inspiration" must do it.

Next question. What does "except by inspiration" mean? Does it mean that any subsequent alteration must come from Ellen White herself, or from another prophet? Or could it mean that it ca be altered "by inspiration" from God as He leads His people onward into greater light? Ill let "inspiration" provide an answer.

First, Paul wrote that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16). Thus God can use Scripture to altar the chart, if he so chooses. Next Ellen White wrote about "the inspiration of the Holy Spirit" (COL, 148). Thus the Holy Spirit can alter the chart, if He sees fit. Finally, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit can rest upon true believers, for "We [God's people] must not only pray in the name of Jesus, but by inspiration and kindling of the Holy Spirit" (The Gospel Herald, May 28, 1902). Thus God's true people, if led by the inspiration and kindling of the Holy Spirit, can appropriately alter the chart. But again, any alteration must come from God, not man.

We are also told that "God leads His people on, step by step" (1T, 187), that "The truth is an advancing truth," and that "we must walk in the increasing light" (EV, 296).

William Miller and the Millerites Had "Errors"

As stated Previously, God definitely led William Miller and his associate Advent preachers. But notice this clear statement from a holy angel about the Millerites right after the October 22, 1844 Great Disappointment:

Said my accompanying angel, "They are again disappointed in their expectations. Jesus cannot yet come to earth. They must endure greater trials for His name sake. They must give up errors and traditions received from men and turn wholly to God and His Word. They must be purified, made white, and tried. Those who endure that bitter trial will obtain an eternal victory" (EW, 243).

Here one of God's angels plainly stated that in 1844 the disappointed Adventists, which included William Miller, still had "errors" to "give up." They must be "purified." This would be a "bitter trial," but worth the struggle.

Seventh-day Adventists Reject the 2520

History tells us that a small group of post 1844 Adventists continued their journey toward greater light. As time crept on, it is also no secret that many Advent leaders, including James White, Uriah Smith, J.N. Andrews, and others, began to revisit William Miller's earlier teaching that the 2520 was a legitimate prophecy found in Scripture. Finally, they concluded that it wasn't real. Were they wrong? On January 26, 1864, this landmark article written by James White appeared in the Review: The Review and Herald "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." Battle Creek, Mich., Third-Day January 26, 1864, James White, Editor

The Seven Times of Lev. xxvi

The prophetic period of Lev. xxvi, or what has been supposed to be such, has been no small object of study among prophetical expositors. It has been supposed that the expression, "seven times." in verses 18, 21, 24, 28, denoted a prophetic period of 2520 years, and that this period covered the time during which the throne of Israel should be and remain subverted and trodden down by oppressing powers. To rightly fix the commencement and termination of this period, became therefore a matter of consequence. Where does it commence? and where does it end? have been questions of much study, and perhaps some perplexity.

These are not the questions, however, that we propose here to discuss; for there is a question lying back of these, which demands to be answered first; namely, Is there any prophetic period brought to view at all in Lev. xxvi? We claim that there is not, and will offer a few of what are to us very conclusive reasons for this position.

After a detailed Bible study of Leviticus 26, here is James White's Conclusion:

So then, there is no prophetic period in Lev. xxi; and those who imagine that such a thing exists, and are puzzling themselves over the adjustment of its several dates, are simply beating the air. To ignore, or treat with neglect, a prophetic period where one is plainly given, is censurable in the extreme. It is an equally futile, though not so heinous, a course, to endeavor to create one where none exists (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, January 26, 1864).

Present-day 2520 believers sometimes respond by quoting other Ellen White statements in an attempt to prove that because James White was under such terrible stress he made a grievous mistake here. But there are problems with this response. First, James wrote, "Is there any prophetic period brought to view at all in Lev. xxvi? WE claim that there is not, and will offer a few of what are to US very conclusive reasons for this position." By writing "We" and "us", James showed that he was not merely stating his own stress-influenced opinion, but that of other faithful Seventh-day Adventist leaders who also rejected the 2520. Were they all mistaken? Second, James White's article reveals crystal clear logic, not erratic reasoning.

The larger issue is: Was this an apostasy from God's truth? Or was it the result of "the inspiration of the Holy Spirit" working through God's people (advancing Adventists) based on careful study of an inspired Bible? And what did Ellen White think about all this?

Seventh-day Adventist Create a New Prophecy Chart

Before answering that latter question, it is noteworthy that approximately eight months before the publication of James White's 1864 anti 2520 article, on May 21, 1863, the Seventh-day Adventist church was officially voted into existence by the creation of a General Conference at a meeting in Battle Creek, Michigan, by twenty delegates chosen to represent various state conferences. The day before, on Wednesday afternoon, May 20, these same delegates officially voted:

Further Business of the Conference

The wording was brief, but the results were far-reaching. Actions were taken relating to the publication of charts for use in the public proclamation of the message: a new prophetic chart, and one on the Ten Commandments (RH, May 26, 1863; Arthur White series, vol. 2, 32).

Thus the same twenty delegates who voted the Seventh-day Adventist Church into existence also voted to create "a new prophetic chart" and "one on the Ten Commandments" to better reflect the new Church's advancing views about prophecy and the Sabbath, neither of which had been fully understood by William Miller.

Three months later (August 1863), James White went to work on this project, finishing both charts by October. Three more months later, on January 26, 1864, in his official capacity as Review editor, his article was published which revealed, through his use of the terms "We" and "us", the official position of the newly organized Seventh-day Adventist Church about the 2520. Again, "Is there any prophetic period brought to view at all in Leviticus xxvi?" James wrote. "We claim there is not." At the end of that same January 26, 1864 Review was a notice of recognition of those contributing funds "For New Charts" which contained no 2520.

Back to Ellen White. The Lord's messenger was fully aware of her husband's January 26, 1864 Review article expressing the Church's official position, and of the content of the "New Charts". How did she relate to this? First, she never protested either the article, or the new charts. Second, and this is one of the most pertinent facts of all, throughout her entire ministry spanning nearly 70 years she never specifically mentioned the 2520 even once, including in The Great Controversy, her most comprehensive work on Millerite history. Not only that, but she actively promoted the new charts.

We shall not hold our peace upon this subject... send in your orders... we will send you a package of books containing four volumes of Spiritual Gifts, How to Live, Appeal to Youth, Appeal to Mothers, Sabbath Readings, and the two large charts, with key of Explanation (1T, 689).

Appealing directly to Seventh-day Adventist members, she wrote:

You can hang up the [new] charts, and show them the truth, as it is there illustrated (RH, March 29, 1870).

Thus the new charts contained "the truth". These statements reveal that the 2520 theory was never accepted by the Seventh-day Adventist Church from its inception, and that contrary to what many claim, Ellen White strongly endorsed and supported the 1863 prophetic Chart. The last quote above was written in 1870. Three years later, Ellen White also wrote:

If God abhors one sin above another, of which His people are guilty, it is doing nothing in case of an emergency. Indifference and neutrality in a religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very worst type of hostility against God (3T; 281).

Based on this solemn warning, we conclude that the rejection of the 2520 from official Seventh-day Adventist doctrine was not "a religious crisis" or "emergency" at all. If it was, Ellen White would have protested vehemently. But she didn't. Not only that, but she refused to hold her peace about her full support of the new chart.

Other Issues in the 2520 Controversy

2520 supporters often tell Seventh-day Adventists that they should return to what our pioneers proclaimed, meaning William Miller and his associates. What about this? Who are the pioneers? Yes, Ellen White wrote that "The experience of William Miller and his associates, of Captain Joseph Bates, and of other pioneers in the advent message, should be kept before our people" (CW, 145). But notice carefully what she also wrote in 1902:

I am instructed to say: Let every believer respect the aged [still living] pioneers who have borne trials and hardships and many privations. They are God's workmen and have acted a prominent part in the building up of His work (7T, 289).

Thus our pioneers are not only include William Miller and some of his associates, but also advancing Adventist leaders like James White, who, after enduring The Great Disappointment and then giving up "errors", finally abandonded the 2520 theory and "acted a prominent part in building up" the official Seventh-day Adventist denomination.

2520 supporters also believe that the 1843 and 1850 charts represent our true "foundation" and "platform" of safety, and that when we abandon any part of their contents, including the 2520, we risk stepping off into darkness. Attempting to warn us, this statement is often quoted:The warning has come: Nothing is to be allowed to come in that will disturb the foundation of the faith upon which we have been building ever since the message came in 1842, 1843, and 1844. I was in this message, and ever since I have been standing before the world, true to the light that God has given us. We do not propose to take our feet off the platform on which they were placed as day by day we sought the Lord with earnest prayer, seeking for light. Do you think that I could give up the light God has given me? It is to be as the Rock of Ages. It has been guiding me ever since it was given (GC Bulletin, April 6, 1903).

This statement is being misused. First, it was written in 1903, long after Adventism officially rejected the 2520 theory. Second, its historical context reveals that Mrs. White was primarily concerned about Dr. Kellogg's subtle pantheistic teachings, not abandoning the 2520. Third, about the "foundation", she wrote that "WE [PLURAL, MEANING SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS] have been building" on it since the 1840's, and that "WE [SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS] do not propose to take OUR FEET off the platform."

Stop. Think. If Adventism stepped off the foundation in 1863-64 when it rejected the 2520, then how could God's messenger say in 1903 that "we" have been building upon that foundation since those early days? Again, "WE do not propose to take OUR feet off the platform." Thus, although Seventh-day Adventist feet officially walked away from the 2520 in 1863-64, those feet still remained on the platform. Not only that, but since 1842-1844, Ellen White had been publicly "standing before the world, true to the light that God had given us."

The True Foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

What then is our foundation? Here's the answer:

The scripture which above all others had been both the foundation and central pillar of the Advent faith was the declaration, "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sactuary be cleansed" (GC, 409).

Thus "the foundation" of our "Advent faith" is Daniel 8:14, not Leviticus 26. What about "the platform"?

God is leading out a people and establishing them upon the one great platform of faith, the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus (3T, 447).

These "people" are Seventh-day Adventists, and based on the above quote, that "one great platform of faith" is the message of the third angel. Ultimately, "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:11. "Upon this rock", said Jesus, "I will build My church." ... That rock is Himself,-His own body, for us broken and bruised. Against the church built upon this foundation, the gates of hell shall not prevail (DA, 413).

Thus the primary foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself, not a chart.

Leviticus 26 Re-Examined

The real issue in the 2520 controversy should be, What does Scripture say? "It is written," must be our weapon. What does Leviticus 26 really teach? Open your own Bible, and see for yourself:

1. The chapter starts with God's appeal to Israel to avoid idols, keep His Sabbath, and reverence His sanctuary (verses 1, 2). Verses 3-13 then lists many blessings to follow obedience. Verses 14-17 then lists early curses if Israel disobeys. Then God said in verse 18, "And after all this, if you do not obey Me...seven times more" punishments would come. If that failed, notice carefully, "Then... seven times more plagues" would follow (vs. 21). "And if by these you are not reformed" (verse 24) "yet" another "seven times" would fall (verse 24). Finally, if "after all this" (verse 27) Israel still stubbornly refused to listen (like proud Pharaoh of old as the ten plagues struck, one by one), one last "seven times" (vs. 28) punishment would occur. Thus a close reading of the text shows four separate "seven times" judgments, each more severe than the former, with the last being the worst of all: they would eat their own children (verse 29), Israel's cities would be totally destroyed (verse 31), the land would be devastated (verse 32), and they would be scattered among the nations verse 33). Thus God's loving character is revealed by the steady increase of disciplinary acts mercifully designed to produce repentance.

2. In Leviticus 26:18, 21, 24, and 28, the phrase "seven times" is mistranslated. The Hebrew word for "seven" is "shevah", but the word "iddan", meaning "times", is not there. Thus "shevah" ("seven", or "sevenfold") standing alone, is used as an adverb to indicate intensity, not duration. The same thing occurs in Daniel 3:19 when the fiery furnace was heated "seven times" (here again "shevah" occurs alone), which obviously refers to intensity, not a time period. Yet the same word (shevah) is used as a noun in Daniel 4:16 because it is connected to the word "iddan" (times), which shows that those "seven [shevah] times [iddan]" would be a literal time period (seven years) when Nebuchadnezzar would become beastlike. In Daniel 7:25, "time, times, and dividing of time" uses "iddan" three times in what is clearly a symbolic prophecy. But in Leviticus 26, "times" ("iddan") is absent, indicating that no prophetic time period is intended. 2520 advocates attempt to solve the problem of "shevah" being used alone in Leviticus 26 by trying to tie it in with Leviticus 25:8 where "shevah" does refer to literal time and the Jubilee cycle. But this is a gigantic leap in speculative logic. In Leviticus 25:8, numerical time is plainly stated (there "shanah" is also used, which means "years"); but in Leviticus 26, no numerical time is specified.

3. The book of Judges reveals that many of the Leviticus 26 curses had already started falling on Israel long before 677 B.C. (compare Leviticus 26:25 with Judges 6:1 and 10:7).

4. Gabriel stated that the 70-week/2300-day prophecy (Daniel 8 and 9) would begin with an easily recognizable "command" to restore Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25). Leviticus 26 contains no clear starting point for a supposed 2520 timeline.

6.In Babylon, Daniel realized that the curses "in the Law of Moses" (Daniel 9:13), which would include Leviticus 26, had overtaken Israel, yet he hoped they would soon be reversed (verse 17), which is exactly what happened. During the reign of Persia, God's people returned to Jerusalem, and He once again established His tabernacle among them, which Leviticus 26:11 plainly states is a clear sign of His blessing, not His curse.

We must never forget that William Miller and his comrades were just beginning to grasp the fullness of end-time light yet to come. Prior to 1844, they didnt understand the Sabbath, the third angel's message, the mark of the beast, the state of the dead, the heavenly sanctuary, or the health message. As God's angel stated in Early Writings page 243, they also had "errors" to give up. Do your homework. Miller also believed that "666" meant 666 years of Pagan Roman rule from 158 B.C. to 508 A.D. (see Evidence from Scripture and History about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, by William Miller, Lecture 5, 1842), and he wanted this listed on the 1843 chart. His brethren disagreed, and it was left out. To his credit, Miller later "remarked that his Advent brethren had not generally agreed with his view of it [666], and that satisfied him that they studied the Scriptures for themselves, and followed him only so far as they believed he followed the word of God" (Midnight Cry, Feb. 22, 1844, 242, also in Advent Hearld, Feb. 14, 1844, 9).

This statement reveals: 1) that our early Adventist pioneers "studied the Scriptures for themselves", 2) that they followed Bro. Miller "only so far" as they could conscientiously agree with him, and 3) that Miller's spirit was kind toward those who differed with him. Shouldn't we follow the example of such "pioneers"?

Key Point: On the 1843 chart the dates 677 and 2520 appear in very large letters in the upper right hand corner. But in the 1850 chart, which 2520 supporters claim in equally inspired, the entire 2520 section is much smaller in the lower right hand corner. This shows that the 2520 theory was weakened among advancing Adventists, even in 1850, and that inspiration had already begun to alter the chart. In the 1863 chart, the 2520 vanished entirely.

Honestly, are we Millerites or Seventh-day Adventists?

Further Considerations

Ellen White wrote that "God sent His angel" to William Miller, and that "The commencement of the chain of truth was given to him" (Story of Redemption, 356-357). 2520 supporters believe "His angel" was Gabriel, and that the "commencement" date was 677 B.C., the start of the 2520. But Ellen White never said that. If "His angel" was Gabriel (which may be true), it makes more sense that the commencement date was 457 B.C. (the start of the 2300 days) simply because the Bible says that it was "Gabriel" himself who revealed the 457 B.C. starting point to Daniel (see Daniel 9:21-25).

In chapters 18 to 24 of The Great Controversy, Mrs. White wrote extensively about William Miller's life, about his discovery of the 457 B.C. date, about the 2300 day/year prophecy, and about the history of the Advent Movement, yet she never mentioned either 677 B.C. or the 2520 timeline. Stop. Think. If such a prophecy truly existed, and was significant, then why didn't she mention it in her most comprehensive work outlining Millerite history? If the Holy Spirit uttered not one solitary word about any 2520 through His chosen end-time messenger--NOTHING, ZERO-- then what are we doing resurrecting the theory? "Do not add to His words", is Heaven's holy warning, "lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar" (Proverbs 30:6). Even worse, how can we make the 2520 a test og God's truth? Brothers and sisters, there is something dreadfullly wrong with this picture!

The bottom line is that no matter what line of reasoning is suggested, the 2520 theory lacks even one crystal clear "Thus saith the Lord" to support it. "There is no prophetic period in Lev xxvi", wrote James White in the Review, and trying to "imagine that such a thing exists" is "beating the air".

The 1843 Chart and Habakkuk 2:1-4

What about the argument that the 1843 Millerite chart fulfilled Habakkuk 2:1-4? This is true, but notice carefully what Ellen White actually wrote in The Great Controversy:

As early as 1842 the direction given in this prophecy [Hab. 2] to "write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it", had suggested to Charles Fitch the preparation of a prophetic chart to illustrate the visions of Daniel and the Revelation. The publication of this chart was regarded as a fulfillment of the command given by Habakkuk (GC, 392).

Habakkuk 2:2 literally says, "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets", and Ellen White clarified that the main purpose of the 1843 prophetic chart was to illustrate the visions of Daniel and the Revelation. 2300 day prophecy is part of a direct vision given to Daniel the prophet (see Daniel 8:1, 2, 17) which qualifies it to be fulfillment of Habakkuk 2:1-4. But no vision is mentioned in Leviticus 26. All of this suggests that Ellen White's support of the 1843 chart, and even the figures on the chart, primarily concerned the 2300 day vision, not the 2520 theory. And in her explanation in The Great Controversy, this is what she focused on without mentioning the 2520 even one time.

Nevertheless, I realize that some of my readers may never be convinced. As I ponder this, i can't help but think about some who witnessed with their own eyes Jesus Christ raise Lazarus from the dead, yet they still refused to believe (see John 11:43-53). Self-deception is frightening. Read Revelation 3:17. May God save each of us from repeating their mistake.

James White "Sleeps in Jesus"

Significantly, in 1899, long after James White died, Ellen White wrote:

My Husband, the faithful servant of Jesus Christ, who had stood by my side for thirty-six years, was taken from me, and I was left to labor alone. He sleeps in Jesus. I have no tears to shed over his grave. But how I miss him! (2 SM, 259).

Therefore James White's public rejection of the 2520 theory didn't cost him his salvation. "He sleeps in Jesus" today. Thankfully, so does William Miller (see EW, 258).

God's True Latter Rain Message For His Church

In 1892, the Lord's messenger wrote:

The time of the test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth (1SM, 363).

Four years later, she added:

The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. This Message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the richteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God... This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel's message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure (TM, 91,92).

Here in the plainest language, Inspiration pinpoints the real latter rain, present truth, life-and-death message from God. "THIS IS THE MESSAGE" our Almighty King has "commanded faithful Seventh-day Adventists to give "to His people" and "to the world". Will we obey His command or not?

Divine Warnings about False Tests

Ellen White repeatedly warned Seventh-day Adventists about "multitudes" of false tests that would be mistakenly urged upon God's people.

Very many will get up some test that is not given in the word of God. We have our test in the Bible,-- the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. "Here are they that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus", This is the true test, but many other tests will arise among the people. They will come in multitudes, springing up from this one and that one (GC Bulletin, April 16, 1901).

The Sabbath question is a test that will come to the whole world. We need nothing to come in now to make a test for God's people that shall make more severe for them the test that they already have. The enemy would be pleased to get up issues now to divert the minds of the people, and get them into controversy (3 SM, 254).

The Lord does not require that any tests of human inventions shall be brought in to divert the minds of the people or create controversy in any line... Nothing should come in to divert our minds from the grand test which is to decide the eternal destiny of a world,-- the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (GC Bulletin, January 1, 1900).

Dear reader, how much plainer can it be?

Our Preparation for the Latter Rain

As this topic nears its close, I also want to affirm my personal belief that most of those who have joined the 2520 movement have done so with absolute sincerity. They want to follow Jesus. They don't want to be deceived. They want the latter rain, they long to participate in the loud cry, and hope to be prepared for Jesus Christ's return. Whatever side of the 2520 controversy we find ourselves on, we should carefully ponder to be truly prepared for translation. Here it is:

God leads His people on, step by step. He brings them up to different points calculated to manifest what is in the heart. Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer. If the professed people of God find their hearts opposed to this straight work, it should convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, if they would not be spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. Said the angel: "God will bring His work closer and closer to test and prove every one of His people." Some are willing to receive one point; but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find that it strikes directly at some cherished idol. Here they have opportunity to see what it is in their hearts that shuts out Jesus. They prize something higher than truth, and their hearts are not prepared to receive Jesus. Individuals are tested and proved a length of time to see if they will sacrafice their idols and heed counsel of the True Witness. If any will not be purified through obeying the truth, and overcome their selfishness, their pride, and evil passions, the angels of God have the charge: "They are joined to their idols, let them alone", and they pass on to their work, leaving these with their sinful traits unsubdued, to the control of evil angels. Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation (1T, 187).

As we can see, our preparation must go far beyond merely believing or disbelieving certain doctrines or timelines. It involves testing the heart, sacraficing idols (which can include false opinions), and gaining the victory over selfishness, pride, and evil passions. Ultimately, it has to do with receiving our blessed Savior, His Righteousness, and His love fully into our soul temples (read Revelation 3:18-20). "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27) is Heaven's goal.

Press Together! Humble the Heart Before God.

I trust that most of my readers realize that time is fast running out. Brothers and sisters, soon we will have much more to think about than debating with each other!

If self is hid with Christ in God, we shall have no differences to alienate us one from another... the burden of our message will be, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (YI, August 2, 1894).

Again and Again the angel has said to me, "Press together, press together, be of one mind, of one judgement." Christ is the Leader, and you are the brethren... but those who draw apart in unsanctified independence cannot have God's presence and blessing in the work (CL, 11).

In conclusion, may we all profit from these inspired words:

The question is not whether you see as your brother does on controverted points; but what spirit has characterized your actions? Have you experienced in close self-examnation, in humbling the heart before God?... Fall on the Rock and be broken; Then Jesus can give you a new heart, a new spirit (RH, December 16, 1890).

Captured by out Savior's amazing love, may we all humbly "press together" at the foot of His cross, and meet in His eternal kingdom.

By: Steve Wohlberg

Prophecy's Blind Date: 2520 (E-book)

Satan seeks to “show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24 NKJV). He is no longer lurking in the shadows with another of his deceptions intended specifically to lure God’s end-time people away from truth. Instead, he blatantly puts those remnant people in the midst of the 2520 prophecy debate.

Author Steve Wohlberg cares deeply about sharing a gospel message that not only is warm and inviting, but he also has a great desire to expose the cunning deceit of the devil and his minions. So in his typical style of using in-depth research, Mr. Wohlberg unveils yet another sham in Satan’s bag of tricks. He plainly shares the thoughts of those who support the theory that they believe they have found embedded in Leviticus 26, and why there is belief in the prophecy. Then he very definitively lays out for the discerning reader the overwhelming and thoughtful evidence as to why it cannot be so.

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